Porous Patents (Class 118/732)
  • Patent number: 10773264
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating glass articles includes a housing structure defining a chamber for receiving air or other fluid from a source of pressurized air that is in fluid communication with the chamber. The housing structure has an open end and a surface defined along at least a portion of the open end. A hot-swappable insert is removably positioned on the surface. The hot-swappable insert has a series of apertures for distributing the air or other fluid from the chamber and onto a surface of the glass articles that are positioned adjacent the insert. The insert can be replaced with another insert to adjust the flow path of the air or other fluid onto the glass articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Arkema Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Jon Nihart, Ryan Christopher Smith, Jeffery Lee Stricker
  • Patent number: 9660191
    Abstract: A thin film deposition apparatus including a deposition source having a crucible to contain a deposition material and a heater to heat and vaporize the deposition material; a nozzle unit disposed at a side of the deposition source along a first direction and having a plurality of nozzle slits to discharge the deposition material that was vaporized; a plurality of emission coefficient increasing units disposed toward the nozzle unit within the deposition source and increasing a quantity of motion of the deposition material that is discharged toward the nozzle unit; a patterning slit sheet disposed opposite to the nozzle unit and having a plurality of patterning slits arranged along the first direction; and a barrier plate assembly disposed between the nozzle unit and the patterning slit sheet along the first direction, and having a plurality of barrier plates that partition a space between the nozzle unit and the patterning slit sheet into a plurality of sub-deposition spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Choong-Ho Lee, Jung-Min Lee, Jun-Sik Oh
  • Patent number: 8858715
    Abstract: The invention relates to a deposition device for comprising a processing space with a substrate support disposed therein, as well as several lift pins (50), which can be moved into and out of the plane of the substrate support to assist in introducing a semiconductor substrate into the processing space and removing it therefrom. The device is characterized in that the contact surface (52) of the lift pin (50) that is to be brought into contact with the semiconductor substrate and/or the substrate support is provided with a material layer (54) which has a lower hardness than the semiconductor substrate and/or the substrate support. This eliminates the risk of damage being caused to the substrate and/or to the substrate support as a result of said substrate shifting undesirably upon being lifted from and lowered onto the substrate support (susceptor). Thus there is no risk of scratches being formed and of particles being released, which might adversely affect the semiconductor manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: XYCarb Ceramics B.V.
    Inventors: Marcus Gerardus Van Munster, Charles Petronella Marie Buijs, Age Leijenaar
  • Patent number: 8641825
    Abstract: A substrate temperature regulation fixed apparatus has a base substance on which a vacuumed object is placed, an adhesive layer and a base plate. The base substance is fixed on the base plate through the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer contains a substance having plasma resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yonekura, Miki Saito, Koki Tamagawa
  • Patent number: 8591656
    Abstract: When compound semiconductor layers are formed on a compound semiconductor substrate (40) by sequentially layering group III nitride semiconductor crystalline layers by metal organic chemical vapor deposition method, the compound semiconductor substrate (40) is attached inside of a reaction container with the crystal growth surface thereof facing upward, a protection member (60) having plural grooves (63) formed in a radiating manner on the side facing the crystal growth surface is attached above the compound semiconductor substrate (40), and a material gas is supplied to the inside of the reaction container through a first through hole (61) provided in the center of the protection member (60). Thereby, in the manufacture of a compound semiconductor using metal organic chemical vapor deposition method, a decrease in yield caused by adhesion of peeled-off reaction byproducts to the substrate or to the epitaxially grown film on the substrate is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8551890
    Abstract: A CVD showerhead that includes a circular inner showerhead and at least one outer ring showerhead. At least two process gas delivery tubes are coupled to each showerhead. Also, a dual showerhead that includes a circular inner showerhead and at least one outer ring showerhead where each showerhead is coupled to oxygen plus a gas mixture of lead, zirconium, and titanium organometallics. A method of depositing a CVD thin film on a wafer. Also, a method of depositing a PZT thin film on a wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian E. Goodlin, Qidu Jiang
  • Patent number: 8551248
    Abstract: A CVD showerhead that includes a circular inner showerhead and at least one outer ring showerhead. At least two process gas delivery tubes are coupled to each showerhead. Also, a dual showerhead that includes a circular inner showerhead and at least one outer ring showerhead where each showerhead is coupled to oxygen plus a gas mixture of lead, zirconium, and titanium organometallics. A method of depositing a CVD thin film on a wafer. Also, a method of depositing a PZT thin film on a wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian E. Goodlin, Qidu Jiang
  • Patent number: 8545939
    Abstract: A method and a device for infiltration of a structure made of a porous material by chemical vapor deposition. According to the method, a first face of the porous material structure is exposed to a gaseous flow, and the second face is maintained at least partially free from any contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Sebastien Donet, Fabrice Emieux, Lionel Filhol, Stephanie Thollon
  • Patent number: 8536498
    Abstract: An induction heating apparatus for heating a traveling metal plate includes an induction coil for surrounding the metal plate. The induction coil includes an upper induction coil for being located above the metal plate and a lower induction coil for being located below the metal plate. The upper and lower induction coils are spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the metal plate a constant distance across a transverse direction of the metal plate. Each of the upper induction coil and the lower induction coil is arranged obliquely at an edge area of the metal plate so as to form an oblique angle with the transverse direction of the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Hirota
  • Patent number: 8506715
    Abstract: A coating deposition apparatus includes a plurality of mounts that are adapted to mount work pieces at respective work piece locations. A crucible is located adjacent the plurality of mounts for emitting a source coating material. A plurality of gas nozzles are respectively directed at the work piece locations to scatter the emitted source coating material at surfaces of the work pieces that are otherwise difficult to coat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Neal
  • Patent number: 8455370
    Abstract: This invention provides methods that permit wafers to be loaded and unloaded in a gas-phase epitaxial growth chamber at high temperatures. Specifically, this invention provides a method for moving wafers or substrates that can bathe a substrate being moved in active gases that are optionally temperature controlled. The active gases can act to limit or prevent sublimation or decomposition of the wafer surface, and can be temperature controlled to limit or prevent thermal damage. Thereby, previously-necessary temperature ramping of growth chambers can be reduced or eliminated leading to improvement in wafer throughput and system efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Michael Albert Tischler, Ronald Thomas Bertram, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8377803
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the deposition of thin films is described. In embodiments, systems and methods for epitaxial thin film formation are provided, including systems and methods for forming binary compound epitaxial thin films. Methods and systems of embodiments of the invention may be used to form direct bandgap semiconducting binary compound epitaxial thin films, such as, for example, GaN, InN and AlN, and the mixed alloys of these compounds, e.g., (In, Ga)N, (Al, Ga)N, (In, Ga, Al)N. Methods and apparatuses include a multistage deposition process and system which enables rapid repetition of sub-monolayer deposition of thin films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip A. Kraus, Thai Cheng Chua, Sandeep Nijhawan
  • Patent number: 8318590
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the deposition of thin films is described. In embodiments, systems and methods for epitaxial thin film formation are provided, including systems and methods for forming binary compound epitaxial thin films. Methods and systems of embodiments of the invention may be used to form direct bandgap semiconducting binary compound epitaxial thin films, such as, for example, GaN, InN and AlN, and the mixed alloys of these compounds, e.g., (In, Ga)N, (Al, Ga)N, (In, Ga, Al)N. Methods and apparatuses include a multistage deposition process and system which enables rapid repetition of sub-monolayer deposition of thin films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip A. Kraus, Thai Cheng Chua, Sandeep Nijhawan
  • Patent number: 8231940
    Abstract: A method of processing wafers in a rotating disc CVD reactor uses wafer carrier having a unitary plate defining wafer-holding features such as pockets on its upstream surface. The carrier connects to the spindle of the reactor during processing. After processing the carrier and wafers in the reactor, the wafers are removed from the carrier. The carrier is renewed by removing the hub from the plate, cleaning the plate and then reassembling the plate with the same or a different hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Boguslavskiy, Alexander I. Gurary
  • Patent number: 8211229
    Abstract: A solid film-formation material feeding apparatus includes a supercritical fluid supply source for supplying supercritical fluid; and a column which is connected to the supercritical fluid supply source, and has a hollow part which is filled with a filler which is inactive for the supercritical fluid, wherein the hollow part can be further filled with a solid film-formation material which is soluble in the supercritical fluid. A column assembly which includes a plurality of the columns which may be connected in parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Elpida Memory, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ode
  • Patent number: 8163089
    Abstract: An apparatus and related process are provided for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material as a thin film on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate. A receptacle is disposed within a vacuum head chamber and is configured for receipt of a source material. A heated distribution manifold is disposed below the receptacle and includes a plurality of passages defined therethrough. The receptacle is indirectly heated by the distribution manifold to a degree sufficient to sublimate source material within the receptacle. A molybdenum distribution plate is disposed below the distribution manifold and at a defined distance above a horizontal plane of a substrate conveyed through the apparatus. The molybdenum distribution plate includes a pattern of holes therethrough that further distribute the sublimated source material passing through the distribution manifold onto the upper surface of the underlying substrate. The molybdenum distribution plate includes greater than about 75% by weight molybdenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: PrimeStar Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Rathweg, Max William Reed, Mark Jeffrey Pavol
  • Patent number: 8156888
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a substitute component for bone, including the processes of: provision of a chemical spray including at least three of calcium chloride, hydrogen phosphate, hydrogen carbonate and water to form a combined solution; reaction and precipitation of the combined solution onto a substrate; allowing the precipitated particles to form a porous structure on the substrate; applying substantially isostatic pressure to the porous structure to form a compressed structure; and (optional) providing one or more through-holes in the compressed structure to promote osteoinduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventor: Charles Chi
  • Patent number: 8153536
    Abstract: This invention provides apparatus, protocols, and methods that permit wafers to be loaded and unloaded in a gas-phase epitaxial growth chamber at high temperatures. Specifically, this invention provides a device for moving wafers or substrates that can bath a substrate being moved in active gases that are optionally temperature controlled. The active gases can act to limit or prevent sublimation or decomposition of the wafer surface, and can be temperature controlled to limit or prevent thermal damage. Thereby, previously-necessary temperature ramping of growth chambers can be reduced or eliminated leading to improvement in wafer throughput and system efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Michael Albert Tischler, Ronald Thomas Bertram, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8021487
    Abstract: A wafer carrier for a rotating disc CVD reactor includes a unitary plate of a ceramic such as silicon carbide defining wafer-holding features such as pockets on its upstream surface and also includes a hub removably mounted to the plate in a central region of the plate. The hub provides a secure connection to the spindle of the reactor without imposing concentrated stresses on the ceramic plate. The hub can be removed during cleaning of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Boguslavskiy, Alexander I. Gurary
  • Patent number: 8012305
    Abstract: An exhaust assembly is described for use in a plasma processing system, whereby secondary plasma is formed in the exhaust assembly between the processing space and chamber exhaust ports in order to reduce plasma leakage to a vacuum pumping system, or improve the uniformity of the processing plasma, or both. The exhaust assembly includes a powered exhaust plate in combination with a ground electrode is utilized to form the secondary plasma surrounding a peripheral edge of a substrate treated in the plasma processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7833382
    Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus comprising a transfer unit disposed at a center thereof, plural processing chambers, each processing chamber having a processing table for supporting an object to be processed and carrying out processing using a gas; and amass flow controller unit interposed between two processing chambers for supplying gas to the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Akitaka Makino, Youji Takahashi, Minoru Soraoka, Hideki Kihara, Susumu Tauchi
  • Patent number: 7828928
    Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus includes an outer chamber comprising a vacuum container, an inner chamber in which a plasma used for processing a wafer is generated, the inner chamber being detachably disposed inside of the outer chamber, a wafer holder on which the wafer is located is disposed inside of the inner chamber, and an exhausting device disposed below the wafer holder which exhausts the inside of the inner chamber. The inner chamber is sealed in air-tight manner with respect to a space between the inner chamber and the outer chamber while the space is maintained at a vacuum pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Akitaka Makino, Youji Takahashi, Minoru Soraoka, Hideki Kihara, Susumu Tauchi
  • Patent number: 7754014
    Abstract: A vacuum valve assembly for use in a vacuum processing chamber includes a seat defining an opening in the vacuum valve, with the seat having a sealing face adjacent the opening and normal to the direction of the opening; and a gate having a sealing face adapted to mate with the seat sealing face, the gate being movable toward and away from the seat sealing face to seal and open the vacuum valve opening. A continuous elastomeric seal extends around the vacuum valve opening between the gate sealing face and the seat sealing face of sufficient size such that when the gate is positioned to seal the vacuum valve opening, there exists a gap between the gate sealing face and the seat sealing face. A purge gas port system, disposed in the seat or in the gate, has an inlet for a purge gas, an essentially continuous outlet extending around the vacuum valve opening and adjacent the elastomeric seal and gap, and a manifold system connecting the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A Gochberg, Christopher W Burkhart
  • Patent number: 7585370
    Abstract: A vacuum valve assembly for use in a vacuum processing chamber includes a seat defining an opening in the vacuum valve, with the seat having a sealing face adjacent the opening and normal to the direction of the opening; and a gate having a sealing face adapted to mate with the seat sealing face, the gate being movable toward and away from the seat sealing face to seal and open the vacuum valve opening. A continuous elastomeric seal extends around the vacuum valve opening between the gate sealing face and the seat sealing face of sufficient size such that when the gate is positioned to seal the vacuum valve opening, there exists a gap between the gate sealing face and the seat sealing face. A purge gas port system, disposed in the seat or in the gate, has an inlet for a purge gas, an essentially continuous outlet extending around the vacuum valve opening and adjacent the elastomeric seal and gap, and a manifold system connecting the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A Gochberg, Christopher W Burkhart
  • Patent number: 7285483
    Abstract: A susceptor configured to receive a semiconductor wafer for deposition of a layer on a front surface of the semiconductor wafer by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has a gas-permeable structure with a porosity of at least 15%, a density of from 0.5 to 1.5 g/cm3, a pore diameter of less than 0.1 mm and an internal surface area of the pores which is greater than 10,000 cm2/cm3. Semiconductor wafers having front surface coated by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and a polished or etched back surface, prepared using the gas-permeable susceptor, have a nanotopography of the back surface, expressed as the PV (=peak to valley) height fluctuation, of less than 5 nm, and at the same time the halo of the back surface, expressed as haze, is less than 5 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Silitronic AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Schauer, Norbert Werner
  • Patent number: 7208065
    Abstract: The specification discloses a structure and method for measuring the etching speed. A test layer is connected with several resistors. Etching the metal layer disconnects in order the resistors from the circuit. The equivalent resistance of the sensing resistor system is measured to obtain the etching speed. In consideration of the errors of the resistors, the invention also provides a structure that utilizes an IC layout technique to put an interdigitized dummy resistor beside the sensing resistors. By taking the ratio of the equivalent resistance of the sensing resistors and the dummy resistor, the invention can compute to obtain the etching speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jing-Hung Chiou, Kai-Hsiang Yen, Chin-Horng Wang, Chao-Chiun Liang, Stella Y. H. Chen
  • Patent number: 7101794
    Abstract: A susceptor for a semiconductor wafer to be placed on during deposition of a layer on a front surface of the semiconductor wafer by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), has a gas-permeable structure with a porosity of at least 15% and a density of from 0.5 to 1.5 g/cm3. There is also a semiconductor wafer having a back surface and a front surface which has been coated by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and a polished or etched back surface. The nanotopography of the back surface, expressed as the height fluctuation PV (=peak to valley), is less than 5 nm. There is a process for producing the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Siltronic AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Schauer, Norbert Werner
  • Patent number: 7024105
    Abstract: A substrate heater assembly for supporting a substrate of a predetermined standardized diameter during processing is provided. In one embodiment, the substrate heater assembly includes a body having an upper surface, a lower surface and an embedded heating element. A substrate support surface is formed in the upper surface of the body and defines a portion of a substrate receiving pocket. An annular wall is oriented perpendicular to the upper surface and has a length of at least one half a thickness of the substrate. The wall bounds an outer perimeter of the substrate receiving pocket and has a diameter less than about 0.5 mm greater than the predetermined substrate diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Fodor, Sophia M. Velastegui, Soovo Sen, Visweswaren Sivaramakrishnan, Peter Wai-Man Lee, Mario David Silvetti
  • Patent number: 6957956
    Abstract: A vertical heat-processing apparatus (1) includes a vertical heat-processing furnace (2) having a furnace port (3), a lid (5) movable up and down to open and close the furnace port, and a rotation mechanism (15) disposed on the lid to rotate a holder (13) that holds a number of target substrates (W). The rotation mechanism (15) includes a rotary shaft (16), and a support unit (19) that supports the rotary shaft (16) rotatably through a bearing (17) and sealing member (18). The rotary shaft (16) has a hollow structure with a thin wall, and is supplied with a cooling gas to flow inside and outside the rotary shaft. The support unit (19) has a cooling passage (32) surrounding an upper portion of the rotary shaft (16), and is supplied with a coolant to flow through the cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Katsuya Toba, Kiichi Takahashi, Mitsuru Obara
  • Patent number: 6841049
    Abstract: In an optical disk substrate film-formation apparatus which prepared an optical disk by forming a thin film on a substrate, the optical disk substrate is held by a holder section. A contact support surface is provided to the holder section which closely contacts at least a portion of the surface of the optical disk substrate rear to the surface where the think film is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Ito, Katsunari Hanaoka, Hiroshi Deguchi, Nobuaki Onagi, Hiroko Tashiro, Kiyoto Shibata, Yasutomo Aman, Hiroshi Miura, Wataru Ohtani, Hajime Yuzurihara, Masaru Shinkai
  • Patent number: 6682627
    Abstract: A substrate processing chamber has a substrate support, a gas supply, a gas exhaust, a gas energizer, and a wall about the substrate support, the wall having a porous ceramic material at least partially infiltrated with a fluorinated polymer, whereby a substrate on the substrate support may be processed by gas introduced by the gas supply, energized by the gas energizer, and exhausted by the gas exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shamouil Shamouilian, Jennifer Y. Sun, Ananda H. Kumar
  • Patent number: 6365013
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coating process, particularly for coating a gas turbine blade (1) having cooling passageways (4) opening out onto the surface (2). During the coating operation, a fluid (6) is directed out of the cooling passageways (4) to prevent blocking of the cooling passageways (4). The invention also relates to an apparatus for implementing this coating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wolfram Beele
  • Publication number: 20010010207
    Abstract: A plasma process apparatus includes a dielectric plate to emit plasma to a chamber interior, and dielectric plate support members to support a dielectric plate. A plurality of gas introduction holes to supply reaction gas to the chamber interior are provided at the dielectric plate support members. The outlet of the gas introduction hole is open at the side facing the surface of substrate 8, and arranged at a peripheral region outer than dielectric plate 5. Ground potential is applied to a chamber lid and the dielectric plate support members, and bias voltage is applied to the substrate. Accordingly, a low-cost plasma process apparatus that can process uniformly a substrate of a large area using uniform plasma can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Naoko Yamamoto, Takamitsu Tadera, Tatsushi Yamamoto, Masaki Hirayama, Tadahiro Ohmi
  • Patent number: 6148763
    Abstract: In a deposited film forming apparatus, at least part of the inner wall surfaces of a reactor or surfaces of structural component parts on which films are deposited is constituted of a porous ceramic material. This can prevent film come-off of deposited films on inner walls and structural component parts of the reactor as far as possible so that the spherical protuberances can be prevented from occurring and electrophotographic photosensitive members having a superior quality can be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Toshiyasu Shirasuna, Kazuhiko Takada, Ryuji Okamura, Hitoshi Murayama
  • Patent number: 6018616
    Abstract: In general, the present invention provides a single thermal cycling module for baking and chilling a substrate, such as a wafer, that is in thermal contact with a foil heater, a heat exchanger, and a radiation heater. The radiation heater thermally heats a fluid contained by the heat exchanger, which in turn, thermally bakes the substrate at a desired temperature. When the radiation heater is deactivated, a fluid circulates through the heat exchanger to chill the substrate. The foil heater assists the baking and chilling phases by elevating the temperature of the substrate when necessary to prevent or regulate temperature fluctuations of the substrate temperature. Both the radiation heater and the foil heater can provide several zones for varying the heat applied across the substrate, and a single fluid temperature is provided to the heat exchanger for both baking and chilling cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles D. Schaper
  • Patent number: 5890269
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer comprising a single crystalline lattice suitable for use in the manufacture of integrated circuits, namely computer chips and dies, wherein a diameter of the wafer is greater than approximately 150 millimeters and wherein the wafer includes a first hole extending through the wafer. The hole is adapted to facilitate handling of the wafer without directly contacting a surface of the wafer. The wafer preferably includes a primary flat and the first hole includes a flat side having a predetermined and known orientation with respect to the primary flat of the wafer. In one embodiment, the wafer further includes a guide hole formed near the first hole such that the center-points of the first hole and the guide hole are oriented with a predetermined and known orientation with respect to the primary flat of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices
    Inventors: Mark I. Gardner, Mark C. Gilmer
  • Patent number: 5620525
    Abstract: A platen supports a substrate on an interior platen region during the deposition of materials such as tungsten, metal nitrides, other metals, and silicides in a chemical vapor deposition ("CCVD") reactor. A deposition control gas composed of a suitable inert gas such as argon or a mixture of inert and reactive gases such as argon and hydrogen is introduced into the CVD reactor. Deposition control gas is preferably introduced through a restrictive opening in a gas orifice surrounding the platen interior region and exits near an edge of the substrate. The restrictive opening accommodates a uniform deposition control gas flow proximate to an edge of the substrate at a pressure greater than reactor pressure near the substrate edge. The deposition control gas substantially prevents process gas access to the substrate edge and backside. In one embodiment, the restrictive opening is formed by placing a restrictive insert within a gas groove surrounding the platen interior region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Everhardus P. van de Ven, Eliot K. Broadbent, Jeffrey C. Benzing, Barry L. Chin, Christopher W. Burkhart
  • Patent number: 5534073
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to obtain a vacuum chucking which can vacuum suck a wafer even if dusts attach thereon. The main body of vacuum chuck (101) has a plurality of block grooves (125) on the surface on which the wafer (1) is sucked and fixed, in which vacuum evacuation paths (105) each for vacuum evacuating each block groove (125) are provided for each block groove (125). When the wafer(1) is sucked and fixed under low pressure, even if the degree of vacuum in one of the block grooves (125) decreases due to attachment of dusts on part of the suction surface, or the like, the wafer (1) can surely be sucked and held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimi Kinoshita, Tomoyuki Kanda, Katsuhisa Kitano, Kazuo Yoshida, Hiroshi Ohnishi, Kenichiro Yamanishi, Shigeo Sasaki, Hideki Komori, Taizo Eshima, Kouichirou Tsutahara, Toshihiko Noguchi, Toru Takahama, Yoshihiko Kusakabe, Takeshi Iwamoto, Nobuyuki Kosaka
  • Patent number: 5389152
    Abstract: A porous preform is densified by heating while emersed in a precursor liquid. Heating is achieved by passing a current through the preform or by an induction coil immersed in the liquid. Ways to control the densification process are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Avco Corporation
    Inventors: Garrett S. Thurston, Raymond J. Suplinskas, Thomas J. Carroll, Donald F. Connors, Jr., David T. Scaringella, Richard C. Krutenat
  • Patent number: 5238499
    Abstract: A suitable inert gas such as argon or a mixture of inert and reactive gases such as argon and hydrogen is introduced onto the backside of wafers being processed in a CVD reactor during the deposition of tungsten or other metals, metal nitrides and silicides, to avoid deposition of material on the backside of the wafers being processed. Each process station includes a gas dispersion head disposed over a platen. A vacuum chuck including a number of radial and circular vacuum grooves in the top surface of the platen is provided for holding the wafer in place. A platen heater is provided under the platen. Backside gas is heated in and about the bottom of the platen, and introduced through a circular groove in the peripheral region outside of the outermost vacuum groove of the vacuum chuck. Backside gas pressure is maintained in this peripheral region at a level greater than the CVD chamber pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Everhardus P. van de Ven, Eliot K. Broadbent, Jeffrey C. Benzing, Barry L. Chin, Christopher W. Burkhart
  • Patent number: 5133284
    Abstract: A suitable inert thermal gas such as argon is introduced onto the backside of wafers being processed in a CVD reactor during the deposition of tungsten or other metals and silicides, to avoid deposition of material on the backside of the wafers being processed. Each process station includes a gas dispersion head disposed over a platen. The platen has a circular depresssion for receiving a wafer, and an annular groove provided in the floor of the depression, near the wall thereof. Heated and pressurized backside gas is introduced into the groove so that the wafer is maintained in a position above the floor of the depression but still within it. In this manner, backside gas vents from beneath the edge of the wafer on the platen and prevents the process gases from contacting the wafer in a transfer region above the platen, so that the wafer can be transported to or from the platen with a suitable wafer transfer mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignees: National Semiconductor Corp., Novellus Systems
    Inventors: Michael E. Thomas, Everhardus P. van de Van, Eliot K. Broadbent
  • Patent number: 5076203
    Abstract: Coating apparatus for a thin plastics web comprises a coating deposition station for applying a coating to the web by vapor deposition and a support for supporting the web at the coating deposition station. The apparatus includes a device for urging gas into the region where the thin plastics web converges with the support to improve the thermal coupling between the web and the support and also to reduce the coefficient of friction between the web and support. The gas enables the coating to be applied by vapor deposition at coating speeds of up to 90 meters per minute without deformation of the thin plastics web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Thorn EMI plc
    Inventors: Ashok W. Vaidya, James L. S. Wales, Robert A. Woolley
  • Patent number: 5037262
    Abstract: A holding device for semiconductor disks or wafers orients and secures the disk during transport to a working position. Shortly before the disk reaches a working position the device releases the surface to be worked or secures the disk position with the aid of a ring which remains in the working position. Thereby the disk surface can be worked completely or with minimal shadowing and simultaneously the transport mechanics can be effectively protected against the working process, for example coating or etching. All parts continuously exposed to the working process can be readily exchanged. If the disk remains adhered in the working station, it is torn off by a form-fitting transport securement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Balzers Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eberhard Moll, Renzo Zanardo
  • Patent number: 4719873
    Abstract: A film forming apparatus utilizing discharge to accomplish film formation is provided with a cover electrode movable back and forth and a gas supply pipe. By moving the cover electrode, the cover electrode and a substrate containing cassette in which a substrate for film formation is contained and which is conveyed to a predetermined film forming position are electrically connected, and discharge is caused in the substrate containing cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasutomo Fujiyama
  • Patent number: 4694778
    Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition wafer boat for supporting a plurality of wafers in an evenly spaced, upright orientation perpendicular to the axis of the boat comprises a cylinder having closed ends and comprised of mutually engaging upper and lower hemicylinders. The upper hemicylinder has diffusion zones with gas flow passageways therein in the ends and zones within from 0 to 75 and within from 0 to 15 degrees from a vertical plane through the cylinder axis. The remainder of the hemicylinder wall and the ends are baffle areas without gas flow passageways. The ends and sidewall of the lower hemicylinder comprise gas diffusion zones. The gas flow passageways comprise from 0.5 to 80 percent of the surface area of the respective gas diffusion zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Anicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur J. Learn, Dale R. DuBois
  • Patent number: 4668479
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasma processing apparatus comprising a housing chamber which accommodates substances to be painted made of synthetic resin, a rotating support base which is provided in the housing chamber and rotates the substance to be painted, a plurality of hangers which are placed on the rotating support base and supports the substance to be painted, at least one plasma injection tube which is provided in the housing chamber and giving plasma processing to the surface of substance by injecting plasma gas thereto, and a variable speed drive means which rotates the rotating support base at the speed in accordance with a size and a number of substances to be painted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhide Manabe, Yasuhiko Ogisu
  • Patent number: 4641604
    Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition wafer boat for supporting a plurality of wafers in an evenly spaced, upright orientation perpendicular to the axis of the boat comprises a cylinder having closed ends and comprised of mutually engaging upper and lower hemicylinders. The upper hemicylinder has diffusion zones with gas flow passageways therein in the ends and zones within from 0 to 75 and within from 0 to 15 degrees from a vertical plane through the cylinder axis. The remainder of the hemicylinder wall and the ends are baffle areas without gas flow passageways. The ends and sidewall of the lower hemicylinder comprise gas diffusion zones. The gas flow passageways comprise from 0.5 to 80 percent of the surface area of the respective gas diffusion zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Anicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur J. Learn, Dale R. DuBois
  • Patent number: 4609562
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for forming a chemically vapor deposited coating on a porous substrate where oxygen from a first gaseous reactant containing a source of oxygen permeates through the pores of the substrate to react with a second gaseous reactant that is present on the other side of the substrate. The apparatus includes means for controlling the pressure and flow rate of each gaseous reactant, a manometer for measuring the difference in pressure between the gaseous reactants on each side of the substrate, and means for changing the difference in pressure between the gaseous reactants. Also disclosed is a method of detecting and closing cracks in the coating by reducing the pressure difference between the two gaseous reactants whenever the pressure difference falls suddenly after gradually rising, then again increasing the pressure difference on the two gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Arnold O. Isenberg, Gregory E. Zymboly
  • Patent number: 4584965
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a plasma treating apparatus for treating articles such as bumpers of synthetic resins with a plasma gas to activate the surfaces of said articles before the same are painted. The plasma treating apparatus comprises: a body defining a chamber for accommodating said articles; a plasma injection pipe disposed in said accommodating chamber for injecting the plasma gas onto the surfaces of said articles; a pair of rotatable supporting members juxtaposed in said accommodating chamber to each other and made rotatable on an axis; and a plurality of supporting beds supported between said rotatable supporting members for supporting said articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Ogisu
  • Patent number: 4582020
    Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition wafer boat for supporting a plurality of wafers in an evenly spaced, upright orientation perpendicular to the axis of the boat comprises a cylinder having closed ends and comprised of mutually engaging upper and lower hemicylinders. The upper hemicylinder has diffusion zones with gas flow passageways therein in the ends and zones within from 0 to 75 and within from 0 to 15 degrees from a vertical plane through the cylinder axis. The remainder of the hemicylinder wall and the ends are baffle areas without gas flow passageways. The ends and sidewall of the lower hemicylinder comprise gas diffusion zones. The gas flow passageways comprise from 0.5 to 80 percent of the surface area of the respective gas diffusion zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Anicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur J. Learn, Dale R. DuBois